This blog is an attempt to preserve, document & share Pakistan's contemporary & traditional culinary heritage. It tells stories and shares recipes from my maternal grand mother and mother's kitchens along with my own stories and memories of growing up in Pakistan.

Saturday, 30 August 2014

Palak Paneer - Pakistani style Curried Spinach & Cottage Cheese

I have been in Pakistan for last few weeks to attend a
sibling’s wedding. The current political situation in the twin cities led to
cancellation and rescheduling of the wedding a few times, which resulted in a
fraction of invitees actually being able to attend the events. The happy affair
turned in to a stressful one as the two families tried to get through the
logistical nightmare the blockages and long march had created between Lahore,
Rawalpindi and Islamabad. The mehndi (pre wedding song and dance party) was
cancelled, the Baraat (wedding ceremony) was done at 4 hours’ notice and the Valima
(wedding announcement dinner hosted by the groom) was moved by more than a week.
But nothing dampened the spirits of the lovely bride and the groom, which
boosted everyone’s mood.

I am sharing the recipe for my favorite Palak Paneer –
Curried Spinach with cottage cheese which was also on the Valima dinner menu
and is particularly a winter season favorite in Pakistan.

Ingredients:

Chopped Spinach / Palak – ½ kg (I am using frozen – You can
use fresh if available. Steam and blend about a kilo of fresh spinach)

Paneer /Cottage Cheese – 250 gms (cut in bite size cubes)

Tomatoes – 3-4 medium sizes (pureed with a green chili)

Green Chili – 1 medium sized

Fenugreek/ Methi Seeds – 1 tsp heaped

Cumin seeds – 1 tsp crushed

Coriander seeds – 1 tsp crushed

Dried Fenugreek leaves / Kasuri Methi – 1 tbsp heaped.

Whole dried chilies – 3

Fresh Ginger/Garlic paste – 1 tsp heaped

Chili Powder – 1 tsp – adjust if more needed.

Salt – 1 tsp – adjust if more needed.

Oil – 4 tbsp

Oil – 1 cup - for frying paneer/ cottage cheese.

Method:

Heat 1 cup of oil in a frying pan and fry cubed paneer till
it turns golden brown. Remove on a kitchen paper. Set aside.